The US military has given the public its first glimpse of its latest addition to the worlds largest arsenal. The weapon is called the Active Denial System which releases a high energy beam and produces a burning sensation.

The weapon is said to be “ harmless”, defense official Theodore Barna told reporters "This is a breakthrough technology that's going to give our forces a capability they don't now have" adding that the new weapon is expected to be in service by 2010.

The weapon is said to have uses in crowd control and other non-lethal situations.